Machines



(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 1.

L. O. GROWELL. BED MOTION FOR CYLINDER PRINTING MACHINES. No. 477,200. Patented June 21, 1892.

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(No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 2. L. G. OROWELL. BED MOTION FOR CYLINDER PRINTING MACHINES.

No. 477,200. Patented June 21, 1892.

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(No Model.) I 8 Sheets--She et 3. L. G. CROWELL. BED MOTION FOR CYLINDER PRINTING MACHINES.

No; 477,200. Patented June 21, 1892.

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8 Sheets-Sheet 4. L. G. CROWELL. BED MOTION FOR CYLINDER PRINTING MACHINES.

Patented June 21, 1892.

fa/ m' (No Model.) 8 Sheets-Sheet 6.

L. G. CROWELL. BED MOTION FOR CYLINDER PRINTING MACHINES. No. 477,200. Patented June 21, 1892;

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L. 0. GROWELL. BED MOTION FOR CYLINDER PRINTING MACHINES. No. 477,200. Patented June 21, 1892'.

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No Model.) 8 Sheets--Sheet 8.

L. 0. GROWELL. BED MOTION FOR CYLINDER PRINTING MACHINES.

No. 477,200. Patented June '21, 1892.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

LUTHER C. CROTVELL, OF BROOKLYN, ASSIGNOR TO ROBERT HOE, STEPHEN D. NEW YORK, N. Y.

TUCKER, THEODORE H. MEAD, AND CHARLES XV. CARPENTER, OF

BED-=MOTION FOR CYLINDER PRlNTlNG-MACHlNES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 477,200, dated June 21 1892.

Application filed February 26, 1892. Serial No. 422,835, No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, LUTHER C. CROWELL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York,

5 have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Bed Motions for Cylinder Printingdvlachines, fully described and represented in the following specification and the accompanying drawings, forming a part of the same.

The present improvements relate to that class of printing-machines wherein the printing-form is carried upon a reciprocating bed and the impression therefrom is obtained by means of a cylinder cooperating therewith. There are many varieties of such machines, to all of which the present improvements are applicable. Such machines may comprise one, two, or more impression-cylinders and z their reciprocating beds be provided with one, two, or more complete printing-forms. In such printing-machines it is requisite, in order to attain a maximum speed of operation, that the bed shall be rapidly slowed down from such maximum speed and be brought momentarily to a state of rest, then started in the reverse direction and rapidly brought up to such maximum speed. These effects must be accomplished at each end of its run and be so attained as to avoid any undue strain upon the parts and without causing any injurious jar.

The reciprocating beds of such machines are generally driven by a rack-and-pinion mechanism; and it is the object of this inven tion to limit the operative or driving action of such rack-and-pinion mechanism to the imparting of the principal or central part of the reciprocatory movement of the bed and providing a slowing, stopping, and starting, mechanism for performing the reversing movernents of the bed at each end of its run.

To this end the invention consists in a retarding and stopping and starting and aceelcrating or reversing mechanism that is composed of a lever or levers automatically engaged with the bed for a period at each end of its run and actuated by means of a crank so as to operate as the driver for the bed at the end or reversing part of its reciprocation,

and thus operate to slow down, stop, and re start the same in the opposite direction by movements which are retarding in one direction and accelerating in the other. This, together with further and specific embodiments of the improvements, is fully hereinafter explained and claimed.

in the accompanying drawings, illustrating these improvements, Figure l is a side elevation taken just within the nearest side frame, Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view taken just above the bed-racks, and Fig. 3 an end elevation of a printing-machine the mechanisms whereof show one form of practically embodying this invention. Figs. a to 10 are diagrammatic illustrations of the bed-aetuating mechanism in various positions of their movements. Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a modified construction. Figs. 12 to illustrate modifications oi the rack-and-pinion mechanism.

In the printing-machine illustrated the impression-cylinder C is mounted to turn in suitable journals in the frame-work and cooperates in producing the impression with a type or form carrying bed B, that reciprocates upon sliders S, running in longitudinal ways W. The main shaft 12 imparts motion to the cylinder C through a wheel 14: and intermediates 15 17 to a wheel 16, fast on the cylinder-shaft, and through intermediates 18, 1E), and 20 to a shaft 13, from which necessary motions are derived.

The main or central portion of the reciproeating movement of the type-bed is produced by means of a rack-and-pinion mechanism of which the driving-pinion is of a size that will make three revolutions while the bed makes one complete reciprocation, one of which revolutions is made during the period of impression, another while the bed is making its idle or return movement, and the third of which is made up of a half-revolution at each end of the run of the bed, or while it is being slowed down, stopped, and started in its return movement, and during the time of said half-revolutions the said pinion is inoperative as the driver while the bed is being driven by the slowing, stopping, and starting mechanism, which consists of a rocking lever whose free end acts as an arm that periodically engages with and drives the bed and an actuating-crank that imparts the requisite motions to said arm. There is one such arm at each end of the machine, which is automatically coupled to the bed at a time when it is about to finish its movement in one direction and requires to be slowed down, arrested, and started in the reverse direction and auto-' matically uncoupled therefrom at the time when the rack-andpinion mechanism again becomes the driving mechanism. The requisite motion for these controlling-arms is communicated thereto by means of an actuatingcrank through connecting-rods, the speed of g which is at the time of coupling of the arm and bed equal to the maximum speed then imparted to the bed by the rack-and-pinion mechanism, but which immediately thereafter is progressively modified until the bed is brought momentarily to a state of rest, and is then imparted to the bed in the contrary direction and accelerated until the maximum speed is again attained, whereupon the rackand-pinion mechanism again comes into action to drive the bed, while the crank-actuated controlling lever-arm ceases to act as the driver. Primarily, as is well understood, the pinion of a rack-and-pinion mechanism will, if suitably revolved, cause said bed to reciprotate horizontally; but in order to use one pinion only it must either be reversed by complicated mechanism, be shifted vertically or horizontally to engage an opposite rack for each movement of reciprocation, or racks cooperating with it must be likewise moved.

In the present improvements in order to attain the greatest efficiency of operation and simplicity of parts two pinions are employed a driving-pinion 10, whose axis turns in fixed bearings, and an intermediate 11, sustained in constant gear therewith, the function of which pinion and intermediate is to move the bed horizontally by gearing with one or the other of two members 2122 of a rack that is fixed directly to the under side of the bed. These racks are secured directly to the under side of the bed in the same horizontal plane, but separated a suitable distance apart to enable the pinion 10 and intermediate 11 to move laterally and yet engage but one rack at a time, and these racks, though of the same length, are arranged longitudinally, so that the member 22, which always cooperates with the intermediate 11, extends beyond the member 21, which always co-operates with the pinion 10, to a distance equal to that between the centers of said pinions and intermediates. The pinion 10 is splined, so as to slide upon the shaft 12, which may be the main or driving shaft, and drives the intermediate 11, which revolves freely and may slide upon its shaft 5, and both the pinion and intermediate are of double width, so that when one, as the pinion 10, is in gear with the rack member 21, the other, as the intermediate 11, will not gear with the rack member 22, and vice versa. As this pinion 10 and intermediate 11 are hung so that their pitch-lines are in the same horizontal plane as the pitch-lines of the two members 21 22 of the bed-rack, it follows that when either is moved laterally, so as to turn in the vertical plane of travel of a member of the bed-rack,it will gear with and drive the bed through such rack member in one direction or the other at the highest speed practically attainable. In order to convert the movement thus given to the bed at either end of its run by retarding and thus slowing it down to a state of rest and then starting and accelerating it to the speed at which the rack and pinion may practically drive it, with a minimum loss of time, this reversing operation is performed by a crank, which at once constitutes the most powerful retarding, stopping, and propelling device. The crank 27 is carried by the shaft 12 of the bed-driving pinion 10, and hence moves concertedly with it, and, like it, makes three revolutions to a complete reciprocation of the bed B. It operates in a yoke 51, and through reciprocating rods 33 34 actuates the controllingarms 28 30, which are the upper ends of the rocking-levers 48 50,which levers are pivoted at their bottom ends to the framework and jointed to said rods 33 34. The range of movement of each of these levers toward the center of the machine from a vertical position is through about thirty degrees, and the move ment of the upper end of each lever is such that its arm willgradually enter into a socket, as 29, provided between two lugs projecting centrally from the bed (with or Without friction-rolls 6 7, properly sustained) at a time when the arm or end of said lever has the same surface movement as the bed and which when so entered to its fullest or a suitable extent of hearing will thereafter travel with a constantly-decreasing movement until a momentary period of rest'is attained and then take up the reverse movement, which constantly increases until the maximum speed of travel of the bed is attained, when it will be withdrawn from said socket. The pinion 10 is carried by a sleeve that is splined upon the shaft 12, so that the pinion may slide laterally upon said shaft and yet be continuously driven thereby, and the intermediate 11 is carried by a sleeve that is mounted to slide freely upon a shaft 5,that is parallel with the shaft 1.2 and is constantly driven by the pinion 10, both pinions being of double width, so as to be maintained in gear during their lateral movements, which are accomplished by a yoke24, the branching arms of which embrace collars on the sleeves of the pinion and intermediate. This yoke is moved horizontally in timely co-operation with the crank 27 by means of a vibrating lever 25 and a cam 26 on the shaft '13.

In Figs. 4 to 10 various parts are shown in the positions theyhave at different periods of their movements, the direction being indicated by the arrows, and in these views such of theparts as would otherwise obscure others are either broken away or shown in dotted lines.

In Fig. 4 the bed B is supposed to be completing the movement it makes during the printing impression. The rack member 21 is just disengaging from the pinion 10, and the arm 28 is just engaging with the bed to control its further movement. At this time the pinion 10 and arm 28 are moving at the same surface speed, and While the crank-pin 27 moves from the point 1 to the point 2 the arm 28 will compel a progressivelydecreasing movement of the bed and bring the same to a state of rest, as in Fig. 5, and while the crankpin is moving from the point 2 to the point 3 the bed will be started and accelerated in the reverse direction, and when the crank-pin is approaching and passing the point 3, as in Fig. 6, the controlling-arm 28 will be disengaging from the bed and the rack member 22 will be gearing with the intermediate 11, which will thereafter solely move the bed during a complete revolution ofthe pinion 1.0 or while the crank is traveling from the point 3 and again reaches that point, as in Fig. 7. When the crank is approaching and passing the point 3 at this time, the rack member 22 will be disengaging the intermediate 11 and the controlling-arm 30 will be engaging the bed, both the arm and the bed then moving With the same speed of travel. \Vhile the crank-pin is moving from the point 3 to the point at the bed will be wholly controlled by the arm 30 and moved with a decreasing speed, and finally arrest-ed when the parts reach the positions of Fig. 8. While the erank-pinis traveling from the point 4 to the point 1 said arm 30 will start the bed and move it in the reverse direction with an accelerated speed until the positions of bed, rack, and arm shown in Fig. 9 are reached, and while the crank is approaching and passing the point 1 the rack member 21 will be engaging the pinion 10 and the arm 30 be disengaging the bed while both are moving at the same speed, and thereafter While thepinion 10 is completing one revolution and the crank-pin moves from the point 1 and again reaches that point the bed will be solely driven by the pinion 10 and the printing impression will be made. At the end of this revolution of the pinion 1O (one-half of which is shown by full lines in Fig. 10) the parts will again be in the position of Fig. i. As the crank approaches and passes the point 1 at this time the rack member 21 will be disengaging the pinion 10 and the controllingarm 28 Will be engaging the bed while both are moving at the same speed, and said arm will thereafter act as the driver for the bed and the operations described will be repeated. When the bed is traveling in the direction shown in Fig. 4 and the rack '21 has run free from the pinion 10, the latter is moved upon the shaft 12 bythe action of the cam 26, so as to be out of the vertical plane or path of travel of the rack 21, and this movement simultaneously carries the intermediate 11 into the path of travel of the rack 22, and consequently this rack 22 will enter into engagement with the intermediate 11 during the reverse movement of the bed, as in Fig. 6, and when the rack 22 has run free from the intermediate 11 the latter is moved upon its shaft so as to be out of the path of travel of the rack 22, which movement simultaneously carries the pinion 10 into the path of travel of the rack 21, and hence this rack 21 will enter into engagement with the pinion 10 during the reverse or printing movement of the bed, as in Fig. 9. Thus as the crank 27, the driving-pinion 10, and the intermediate 11 revolve at like surface speed it follows that at the time when the said pinion 10 is fully engaged with the rack 21 of the bed and driving the latter the crank 27 will in approaching and passing its highest point 1 cause the arm 28 to engage with the bed and become its driver as the pin ion 10 runs out of the rack 21 and ceases to be the driver, and that the transition of control from the pinion 10 to the arm 28 will be made while the parts are moving with uniform speed, and thus be smoothly and evenly accomplished. \Vhen, however, the bed is wholly within the control of the arm 28, the crank-controlled movement of said arm will gradually modify the speed of movement of the bed as the crank travels to its quarterpoint 2 and fully stop the bed when that point is reached, and while said crank travels from said quarter-poiut2 to its half or lowest point 3 a reverse but accelerated movement of the bed will be effected until the surfacespeed of travel of the bed is again equal to that of the pinion 10 and intermediate 11, when the latter will engage the bed-rack 22 and the arm 28 will disengage the bed, which engagement of the intermediate with the rack 22 and disengagement of the arm 28 from the bed is a smooth transition accomplished as the crank approaches and passes the low point 3, at which time the coacting parts are moving at uniform speed, The disengaging of the rack 22 and intermediate 11 and engaging of the arm 30 with the bed as the crank 27 approaches and passes the point 3 after a complete revolution, during which the rack 22 and intermediate 11 solely drive the bed, and the engaging of the rack 21 and pinion 10 and disengaging of the arm 30 with the bed as the crank 27 approaches and passes the point 1 previous to a complete revolution, during which the pinion 10 and rack 22 solely drive the bed, are smooth and even transitions from one driving mechanism to the other, which will be readily understood, as they are counterparts of those described as oecurring at the other end of the run of the bed. It will now be apparent that when the cranlepiu 27 is making its movement from the points 1 to 3 and actuating the controlling-arm 2S toperform work the lever 50 and its arm 30 are making idle movements; that when the crank-pin 27 is making a complete revolution from the point 3 to the point 3, both the levers 48 and 50 and their arms 28 30 will make idle movements; that when the crank-pin 27 is moving from the point 3 to the point 1 and actuating the arm 30 to perform work the lever 48 and its arm 28 will move idly, and that when the crank-pin is making a complete revolution from the point 1 to the point 1 both the levers 4S and 50 and their arms 28 30 will make idle movements; further, that when the arm 2S or 3O is in action controlling the movements of the bed the pinion 10 and intermediate 11 run idly to an extent equal to a one-half revolution of the pinion 10, and that when the arm 28 or 30 vibrates idly the i pinion 10 and intermediate 11 will turn operatively, oneor the other being in gear with a bed-rack, and move a distance equal to a complete revolution of the pinion 10, said pinion 10 thus making three revolutions to each complete reciprocation of the bed. Of course said pinion may make any other suit;

ably attached to the central part of the bed. 1

These levers with segment-racks operate substantially as do the simplelevers whose ends constitute the arms 28 33; but the segment.

racks provide a multiplicity of teeth, several of which are meshed with a like number of teeth of the rack, and thus afford an extended bearing-surface providing greater strength; They are not, however, claimed herein, except as substitutes for or modifications of the other form of lever shown in the preceding figures.

Modifications of the rack-and-pinion mechanism will now be described; but-it is to be understood that the same are only claimed herein as embraced by the broad scope of the claims.

Although only one rack-and-pinion mechanism has been thus far described, it is apparent that various forms of such mechanisms may be substituted therefor in co-operation with the lever form of bed-controlling arms. Thus a single driving-pinion might co-operate with two racks arranged in the same vertical plane, but such a distance apart as to require the pinion to move up and down to alternately engage them, as in Figs. 12 and 13. In this instance the pinion 61 is mounted upon one end of a shaft 65, whose opposite end is supported in a pivoted box, whereby said shaft is made capable of swinging slightly and yet be rotated from the crank-shaft 12 through the wheel 14 and a pinion 66. The end of this shaft that carries the pinion 61 is 'which two pinions 71 72 co-operate.

mesh together.

raised and lowered in guides 67 68 by means of a stud 9, that depends from its box 8, and the short arm of a rocking lever 75, which latter is moved by the cam 26 on the shaft 13. When the pinion 61 is about to be engaged by the rack member 62, it is moved upward into the plane of its travel, as in Fig. 13, and when it is to engage the rack 63 it is swung downward into the plane of the travel of that rack member. A single pinion, as 52, may be mounted upon a shaft turning in fixed bearings and have coacting with it an oscillating frame carrying two racks, as 54 55, alternately moved into engagement with said pinion, as in Fig. 14. The two-membered rack and single pinion gearing alternately therewith, as shown in Figs. 15, 16, and 17, may be adopted. In this example the bed 13 is provided with two facing racks 54: 55, arranged in different horizontal and vertical planes, but so that the pitch-lines of the pinion 56 and both racks coincide, whereby said pinion may when moved horizontally pass out of one rack and into the other. This pinion 56 is of double width, so that while'it moves from one rack to the other it may be maintained in gear with the driving-pinion 10. Its sliding movement is provided for by mounting it upon a sleeve which slides on the pinion-shaft and has a collar 57, into which is entered one end of a lever 58, that is vibrated by the cam, as 26, on shaft 13. The bed may carry but a single rack, and two driving pinions may alternately engage it, as in Figs. 18 and 19, where the bed B has a single rack 60, with These pinions 71 72 are mounted upon a sleeve 73, that moves freely upon a shaft 75, and they are constantly driven in opposite directions by means of intermediates 80, S1, and 82, of which is wide enough to insure constant gearing between 71 and 81 as the pinions 71 72 are moved laterally by means of a vibrating lever acting through a collar on the sleeve 73. Two pinions constantly engaging a single rack,but rendered inactive at times as drivers, as in Figs. 20 21, may be adopted. The pinions 69 and 7 O, of equal size, are loosely mounted on parallel shafts, but do not These shafts are geared together by pinions 74 76, and the shaft 53 of pinion 76 is rotated in unison with the bedpinion-driving shaft 12 by means of a pinion 96, gearing with the wheel 14. The pinions 69 and 70 each carry one member of a clutch mechanism, as 87 and 88, and the coacting members '77 and 78 of said clutch mechanisms are attached to collars that are splined upon the shafts of the pinions 7e and 76. One or the other of the clutch members 77 and 78 is moved into engagement with the clutch member on the pinion 69 or 70, according as one or the other is to become active as a driver, by means of a yoke which is appropriately moved by a vibrating shaft 59, that is actuated by a rock-arm by the cam 86. WVhen these clutches are uncoupled, the pinions 69 and 70 are inaetive,but driven by the rack with which they are constantly engaged, and when one pinion is clutched so as tobecome a driver its companion is driven by the rack. A single pinion engaging a single rack and alternately made active and inactive as a driver, as in Figs. 22 and 23, maybe used. In this case the pinion 38 runs freely upon its shaft and is guided by a collar and maintained constantly in gear with a single rack 37. Upon this same shaft there are two loosely-running pinions 97 and 98, that are constantly driven in contrary directions by means of intermediates 84, 79, and 89, the intermediates 84 receiving motion froma shaft through a pinion 91, that meshes with the wheel 14 on the crank-shaft 12. The pinion 38 has clutch members upon its opposite faces, and the pinions 97 and 98 each carry a cooperating clutch member, and said pinions 97 98 are alternately moved into clutched engagement with the pinion 38 by means of a yoke 93, that is vibrated by a shaft 95, which is moved by a rock-arm 99 by the cam 100, in which movement the pinions 97 and 98 are maintained in gear with the intermediates S4 and 89, which are made wide enough to secure such operation. \Vhenever the bed is driven by the moving member the pinion will be driven by the rack, as is obvious. None of these modified pinion mechanisms are specifically claimed herein, the same being introduced to illustrate their use in con neetion with the subject-matter hereinafter claimed.

Any raek-and-pinion or equivalent bed- 'driving mechanism may be employed in cooperation with the slowing, stopping, and starting mechanism set forth and claimed herein.

For the crank a crank-pin carried bya disk on the shaft 12 or by the pinion 10 may be substituted, and the yoke, the crank, or crankpin may be attached to the vibrating arms by simple pivoted connecting-rods.

What is claimed is 1. The combination, with a rack-and-pinion mechanism operating to drive the bed during the principal extent of its movement in either direction, of a crank-actuated lever whose free end acts as a controlling-arm engaging the bed near the end of its run in eitherdirection and operating to rapidly modify its movement, arrest the same, start, and accelerate it in the reverse direction, together with means acting to bring said lever into co-operation with the bed, While the rack and pinion become inoperative as the driver, substantially as described.

2. The combination,with a racleand-pinion mechanism operating to drive the bed during the principal extent of its movement in either direction, of crank-actuated levers whose free ends act as controlling-arms engaging the bed near the ends of its run in either direction and operating to rapidly modify its movement, arrest the same, start, and accelerate it in the reverse direction together with means acting to bring said levers into cooperation with the bed, while the rack and pinion become inoperative as the driver, substantially as described.

The combination, with a raek-and-pinion mechanism operating to drive the bed during the principal extent of its run, of a crank-actuated lever whose free end acts as a controlling-arm coacting with the bed to slow down and arrest it at the end of its run and start the same in the contrary direction, substantiall y as described.

at. The combination, with a rack-and-pinion mechanism operating to drive the bed during the principal extent of its run, of crank-actuated levers whose free ends act as controllingarms coacting with the bed to slow down and arrest it atthe ends of its run and start the same in the contrary direction, substantially as described.

5. The combination, with the bed and its driving-rack having two members in the same horizontal plane, of a driving-pinion and an intermediate pinion turning on shafts mounted in fixed bearings and means for simultaneously shifting both laterally, so that they shall alternately engage with opposite members of said rack, substantially as described.

6. The combination, with the moving bed, of a lever separate therefrom and a crank op erating to vibrate the lever and automatically engage its free end with and disengage it from the bed, whereby the lever is caused to retard and arrest the movement of thebed in one direction and to start and accelerate the same in the opposite direction, substan tially as described.

7. The combination, with the reciprocating bed, of two levers separate therefrom and a crank operating to vibrate said levers and antomatically engage their free ends with and disengage them from the bed, said levers alternately operating to retard and arrest the bed in one direction and to start and accelerate the same in the opposite direction, and thus reversing the bed at each end of its run, substantially as described.

8. The combination, with the bed and mech anism operating to drive it throughout the principal extent of its movementin either direction, of a pivoted vibrating lever whose free end acts as a controllingarm periodically engaging the bed and operating to complete such movement and reverse the bed at the end of its run by rapidly retarding the same to a state of rest and then restarting and accelerating its movement in the reverse direction, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with the bed and a mechanism operating to drive it throughout the principal extent of its movements of reciprocation, of two pivoted vibrating levers whose free ends act as controlling-arms alternately engaged with the bed and operating to com plete such movements at opposite ends of its runs by rapidly retarding the same to a in a reverse direction, and be disconnected therefrom when its maximum speed is again attained, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set [5 my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

LUTHER C. CRONELL.

Vitnesses:

L. E. HOWARD, J. J. KENNEDY. 

